L Rajagopal, the 'pepper-spray MP': 10 things about him

New Delhi: Lagadapati Rajagopal, the man who used pepper spray in Parliament, says he acted in self-defence. He is among the richest MPs from Andhra Pradesh, with some 299 crores to his name according to his affidavit to the Election Commission in 2009.

The 53-year-old MP from Vijayawada in 2009 had introduced a private members bill in the Lok Sabha to deal with disruptions by lawmakers and even suggested a mechanism to penalise them.

Here are 10 facts on Mr Rajagopal

Mr Rajagopal today walked into the Lok Sabha armed with a pepper spray can, and during a fight between MPs, pulled it out and aimed it across the house. MPs rushed out the house holding handkerchiefs to their face. Many MPs, including Mr Rajagopal, were taken to hospital.

"I did it in self-defence. They pounced on whoever opposed the Telangana bill. I would have done the same thing anywhere. It's not a lethal weapon," the MP said, claiming that he has carried pepper spray for protection in the past.

Mr Rajagopal was among the six MPs expelled by the Congress for moving a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the proposal to split Andhra Pradesh and create Telangana.

These MPs belong to Seemandhra, or the non-Telangana region that is vehemently opposed to bifurcation. Mr Rajagopal said he would do all he can to block the Telangana bill in Parliament.

Mr Rajagopal has always displayed a flair for drama. In December 2009, he sat on a protest fast for more than a week against Telangana, holding the national flag, and emerged as one of the most prominent faces of the United Andhra Pradesh movement.

When his condition worsened during the fast, Mr Rajagopal was arrested and forcibly taken to hospital. But he managed a late-night 'escape' from the hospital despite scores of policemen standing guard.

He was the first Andhra Pradesh MPs to send in his resignation as soon as the Centre announced its plans to carve out Telangana in 2009.

Mr Rajagopal is a mechanical engineer. In 1986, he married the daughter of former union minister P Upendra. In 2002, quit his job with a private company to join politics.

He won the Vijayawada seat for the first time in 2004, and retained it in 2009.

Mr Rajagopal's critics allege that his opposition to the division of Andhra Pradesh is linked to his personal interests; he is believed to have massive investments in Hyderabad, the planned capital of the new state, and parts of Telangana. The MP has denied it.